Leap of the Lion (The Wild Hunt Legacy #4)(85)
“You’re such a Daonain.” Darcy snorted. “I hate to disillusion you, but females don’t belong on pedestals. If we behave like assholes, we should be treated like assholes.” Her voice was matter-of-fact as she took his hand, lacing their fingers together. “Why didn’t you leave when you finished your apprenticeship?”
“If Edwyn had stayed alive, I’d have fled town with Owen the minute our apprenticeships were done. But Edwyn died, and when Bonnie returned for the funeral, our mother preyed on her. Bonnie’s a sweetheart without a mean bone in her body, and Mother would have sucked her dry.”
Dawning understanding lit Darcy’s face. “You were afraid she’d follow Bonnie back to Cold Creek?”
“Aye.” Gawain shrugged. “Since it was my fault Edwyn died, I made a deal with Mother that as long as I stayed in Pine Knoll, she’d leave my sister alone—and not hit Owen up for money. As long as Mother had someone to…cater…to her, she wouldn’t bestir herself to search for them.”
With a harsh rustle of leaves, a mountain lion dropped onto the trail right in front of them. Ears back, fangs exposed, it hissed furiously. Owen wasn’t teaching lessons this time. The cahir was furious.
Gawain felt Darcy’s magic as she fought the instinct to trawsfur. “Brawd, you’re scaring her. Stop it.”
The cougar trawsfurred, and Owen stood before them, still spitting mad. “How in Herne’s fucking forest can you figure you’re responsible for Edwyn’s death?”
“When I humiliated him in front of Phoebe, she showed him her claws and dumped him. That was why he drove off.”
“But that—”
“You did right, Gawain,” Darcy interrupted Owen. “That poor girl might have ended up with the asshole otherwise. Didn’t she deserve to hear the truth before getting manipulated into a relationship with such a loser?”
Gawain scowled. That loser was his brother. And…she was right. Edwyn would have abused Phoebe.
“You stayed…for me and Bonnie.” Owen looked like he’d been kicked in the gut. “After I got Bonnie to Cold Creek, I went back to Pine Knoll for you. I thought maybe you’d want to join me—only you were at Mother’s house, hauling in her groceries. I thought…”
“Thought I wanted to take Edwyn’s place in her affections? Don’t make me puke.” Anger flickered and died under a surge of love. His brother had come back for him.
Owen scrubbed the scruff on his jaw with his palms. “You gnome-brained idiot.” His voice rose to a shout. “You put up with her for well over two fucking decades.”
“Aye.” The words clogged in Gawain’s throat. “I’d do it again to keep her out of your lives. At fifteen, Bonnie was too young. Too sweet. You were…” The humans would call it “abused.” Gawain swallowed, remembering how there were always bruises on his littermate’s body. How Owen’s shoulders would hunch against the names she’d called him. How his eyes had grown more and more haunted.
Those green eyes were clear now. Pissed off, but clear.
“You needed a chance to heal, brawd.” Gawain wanted to reach out, to touch him—and knew better. All he could do was offer the insight he’d gained. “Every time I helped the master blademage make a lifemating bracelet, I would be bathed in the Mother’s love. Feeling real love—not the twisted mess our mother offered—made a difference, gave me balance, but you didn’t have that gift. You needed time, brawd. Time away from her.”
Gawain didn’t know what else to say. He could see the pain and guilt in Owen’s face. The protective cahir would see leaving his brother behind as cowardice. The male with such an ugly past wouldn’t know how to deal with someone trying to save him pain.
Owen took a step back as if to run, to nurse his wounds in private.
“No, you don’t.” Darcy grabbed Owen’s hand and yanked Gawain forward. “My mother taught us that after the yelling, you hug each other. Do it—or I’ll hurt you both.”
Shocked, Owen stared at her, then his lips twitched.
Gawain almost laughed. The female had bigger balls than an alpha wolf—and she was right. He pulled Owen into a hug.
Twenty-five years. Owen was the taller one now, and all muscle, yet still felt like Gawain’s littermate. Despite the years and anger, as Owen’s arms tightened and their scents mingled, the scars and damage to their brother bond faded. The energy pouring between them increased to a thick glow.
It felt good. Felt right.
When Gawain took a breath and looked up, he saw Darcy had disappeared, leaving them alone. He gazed after her. Not releasing his brother, he said, “I don’t regret staying in Pine Knoll. But gotta say, I missed you. Missed sharing my life with you.”
“Aye, me too.” Owen’s lips curved as he followed Gawain’s gaze. “Seems like we might consider sharing a mouthy, bossy, little cat, as well. I’m getting rather fond of her.”
Gawain laughed. He was well on the way to being more than fond, but there was time for his brother…and their female…to catch up.
*
Later, as darkness fell, Darcy loped after Owen, followed by Gawain.
Owen always led them on the trails, and he usually took charge, she’d noticed. She’d bet it’d been his and Gawain’s dynamic as cublings, even if Owen had been the abused one. Gawain would put his paw down if he disagreed with something, but that didn’t happen often. Actually, she understood how Gawain felt. Owen was a good leader, his decisions well thought out. She trusted him—and it was so, so nice not to be the one making all the decisions.